Knock-down portable table



M 1937- MACDONALD 2,080,982

KNOCK-DOWN PORTABLE TABLE I Filed Aug. 17, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR IaJz Macolonad BY Q 16 V v ATTORNEY May 18, 1937. I. MACDONALD 2,030,982

KNOCK-DOWN PORTABLE TABLE I Fiied Aug. '17, 1936 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR lanflacdonald qn ggnf 1 ATTORNEY UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE KNOCK-DOWN PORTABLE TABLE Ian Macdonald, Modesto, Calif.

Application August 1'7, 1936, Serial No. 96,458

3 Claims.

This invention relates to portable knock-down tables for garden and other outdoor use, suchas are shown in my Patents Nos. 1,934,937 dated November 14, 1933, and 1,984,789 dated July 3, 1934, among others; my present invention representing improvements over these former devices particularly with respect to the provision of an improved, simplified and lighter form of folding leg and frame unit and the provision of an improved folding table top arranged when folded to contain not only the seats but the fold-ed frame unit as well, and also arranged when in use to support 7 a sunshade or beach umbrella.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the table structure in operative position.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the folded table top.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the table top partly opened out and inverted.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side view partly'in section of a telescopic leg and adjacent parts.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the leg and frame unit folded.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the upper telescopic leg member and connected parts.

Figure 7 is a similar view of the lower leg member and connected parts.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation'of one of the table supporting units, looking from the inside and showing a corner of the table supported thereby.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the frame structure of the table defines a square area and is the same general shape as in the previous patents. It comprises four corner legs each consisting of a lower tubular member I of a convenient seat height and upper rods 2 slidable into the lower members.

Extending upwardly and toward each other from the bottom of adjacent leg members I on the outside of the same are diagonal bars 3, pivoted on the legs by means of bracket straps 4 secured on the outside of and projecting tangent to the legs (see Fig. '7). Adjacent their upper ends the bars are connected together by hinges 5 secured on the'inner faces of the bars (see Fig. 8). Extending between different pairs of adjacent upper leg members 2 back of the diagonals and on the same level when outstretched as the top of the leg members I are brace units each comprising a pair of straps 6 of the same length. These are connected at their adjacent ends by (Cl. 155-424) a a pivot bolt 1 (see Fig. 1) and are also pivoted on the diagonals at their points of crossing as shown at 8. At their opposite ends the braces are pivoted on the upper leg rods 2 at the top by means of rigid bracket straps 9 secured on the rods on the outside and disposed tangent thereto (see Fig. 6).

As with the previous frame structure, it will be seen that the horizontal brace units limit the divergence and consequently the lowering of the diagonal bars without interfering with the upward folding movement of the same. When the braces are horizontal their-bracket straps 9 rest on top of the relatively large lower leg members I, which positively limits the telescoping movement of the upper members. Said upper members being naturally smaller in diameter than the lower members I, the brackets 9 are in a vertical plane inwardly of the lower brackets 4, and the thickness of the braces is such that they may move behind the diagonals without binding whether they are being folded or unfolded. This arrangement also allows the frame structure to be folded so that the. diagonals are disposed in close compact and parallel relationship, surrounding and enclosing the other parts of the structure as shown in Fig. 5.

In addition, the brace straps serve to support triangular seat boards II) of the same form as previously employed. Since a pressure on any seat presses down on the adjacent portion of the brace units, it is obviously impossible for the latter to fold upwardly and cause collapse of the framework as long as any one seat is occupied.

The table top is of the samegeneral form as shown in my Patent No. 1,934,937, and comprises a pair of diagonally separated sections I I. These sections have edgings I2 depending all about their outer periphery and which increase in depth from their outer to their diagonal corners. Other edgings I3, the same depth as the adjacent portions of the edgings I2, extend between the latter along the diagonal sides of the table sections and are connected together by downwardly folding hinges I I.

A partition I5 is mounted in one section II, parallel to the adjacent edging I3, the space between the partition and the edging I3, and the combined depth of the two edgings when folded being sufficient to form a compartment to receive and enclose the folded frame unit.

Cooperating catch elements I6 depending from the opposite corners of the table sections prevent undesired unfolding of the table sections when they are brought together to the position shown in Fig. 2. Formed in one table section adjacent but inwardly of the corresponding catch element is a hole II. This is of sufficient size to receive the standard of an ordinary beach umbrella and also serves as a hand hold when the table is being transported; the device being then naturally held so that the weight carried inside is at the bottom, and with the free or disconnected corners at the top as shown in Fig. 2. The remaining enclosed area of the partitioned table section not occupied by the frame unit is of sufficient size to receive the seat boards in stacked relationship.

The distance between the opposed frame diagonals 3 when the frame unit is outstretched is such that the latter fit at the top into the four corners of the unfolded table top,and the latter is then prevented from horizontal shifting between edgings l2 as indicated in Fig. 8.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a folding table and seat unit, a foldable table and seat supporting frame comprising table supporting units each consisting of a pair of upwardly converging members hingedly connected together adjacent their upper ends, normally horizontal seat supporting and. brace units each consisting of a pair of straps pivoted together centrally between the members and pivoted intermediate their ends on the latter intermediate the ends thereof, lower tubular leg elements at the corners of adjacent table supporting units, means pivotally connecting the members at the bottom on the elements, upper leg elements slidably engaging in said tubular elements, and means pivoting the brace straps at their ends on the upper elements at the top thereof and also limiting the downward movement of the same into the tubular elements when the brace units are horizontally disposed.

2. In a folding table and seat unit, a foldable table and seat supporting frame comprising table supporting units each consisting of a pair of upwardly converging members hingedly connected together adjacent their upper ends, normally horizontal seat supporting and brace units each consisting of a pair of straps pivoted together centrally between the members and pivoted intermediate their ends on the latter intermediate the ends thereof, lower tubular leg elements at the corners of adjacent table supporting units, means pivotally connecting the members at the bottom on the elements, upper leg elements slidably engaging in said tubular elements, the brace straps being inwardly of the table supporting members, straps secured on the upper leg elements at the top outwardly thereof and having their end portions extending inwardly of said brace straps, and pivot connections between the brace and leg supported straps; the latter resting on top of the tubular leg elements when the brace units are horizontal.

3. In a folding table and seat unit, a foldable table and seat supporting frame comprising table supporting units each consisting of a pair of upwardly converging members hingedly connected together adjacent their upper ends, normally horizontal seat supporting and brace units each consisting of a pair of straps pivoted together centrally between the members and pivoted intermediate their ends on the latter intermediate the ends thereof, lower tubular leg elements at the corners of adjacent table supporting units, straps secured on the lower leg elements at the bottom outwardly thereof and having their end portions inwardly of the table supporting members, pivot connections between said straps and members, the brace straps being inwardly of the table supporting members, upper leg elements slidable in the lower elements, straps secured on the upper leg elements at the top outwardly thereof and having their end portions extending inwardly of said brace straps, and pivot connections between the brace and the leg supported straps; the latter resting on top of the tubular leg elements when the brace units are horizontal, and the thickness of said brace straps and the upper and lower leg straps being such that the table supporting members may be folded together to lie in substantially parallel relationship with the brace straps inwardly thereof and also in substantially parallel relationship.

IAN MACDONALD. 

